airspace

noun

air·​space ˈer-ˌspās How to pronounce airspace (audio)
: the space lying above the earth or above a certain area of land or water
especially : the space lying above a nation and coming under its jurisdiction

Examples of airspace in a Sentence

seeking permission to fly through U.S. airspace
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Saudi Arabia has suffered fewer attacks than Gulf neighbours, its airspace has mostly stayed open, and the kingdom has projected a business-as-usual attitude. — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026 In September, a drone that violated Lithuanian airspace was shot down over the nation’s territory for the first time, following similar incidents in Latvia and Estonia. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 9 Oct. 2026 For Kurdistan, this turns into a question of whether Baghdad can increase its defense of all Iraqi territory and airspace, including from Iranian drones in the region. — Firmesk Rahim, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 That month, around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, and three Russian fighter jets crossed into Estonian airspace before being shot down and chased out, respectively, by NATO forces. — Julianne Smith, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airspace

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airspace was in 1911

Rhymes for airspace

See All Rhymes for airspace

Browse Nearby Words

air sleeve
airspace
airspace reservation
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Cite this Entry

“Airspace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airspace. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on airspace

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about airspace

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